The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-02-02

not take sufficient care in procuring and Sc
lecting seed. The corn plant has certain
capacity for taking up and appropriating the
fertilizers, and more manure may be APP
piled than the plant can take up, and, so far
as that crop is concerned, is lost. Mr.. Davis
had series of charts showing the growth
and habit of the corn plant, from the sprout-
ing kernel through the various stages to the
perfected stalk. Not enough corn is grown;
a farm without good corn-crib, well filed,
is as barren and as unsatisfactory as house
without baby. One reason why we do not
succeed better in raising corn is that we
cultivate in small areas-a little three
cornered piece here, and smaller piece
with more corners there, and another
yonder. Put your pieces all in one; 1t is n
saving of time and expense. He advocated
the selecting of the piece for corn early and
applying the manure in the fall or early
winter. Spread the manure on the ground
early; it will become dissolved and be held in
the soil ready to be taken up by the growing
plant. Culture and climate influence have
greatly changed and improved corn, and
great care should be exercised in the selec-
ton of seed. If you change your seed now
the safer rule is to go north for it rather
than south. The latter will give more fod-
der according to the grain; the seed from
the north more grain to the fodder. When
the meadow has run down to a ton or ton
and a half per acre then turn ii over and
put in corn, which does not take very much
from the soil and leaves it in good condi-
ton for grass. Plow we'll Good blowing
is the foundation of good culture. Manure
according to your land. He applies about
twenty loads of forty bushels each per acre
and turns under the manure. Harrow the
land as much as you think necessary, and
then harrow some more. Pulverize the
land thoroughly, which will set at liberty
plant food which is in the soil Test the
seed before planting, for seed which does
not terminate is very great setback to
the crop Draw the lines for the rows
straight. He plants in rows three feet four
inches apart each way, because he has
witch grass, and puts the crop in check
rows, to be able to cultivate thoroughly
both ways; but where grass does not
trouble he would recommend planting in
drills every time, as IL will give more corn.
He believes it best to put little fertilizer
in the hill, and if you have neglected to
prepare it from your hen-hOuse and house
slops then buy it, and buy what you need
without that which you do not need, if you
can. This puts the fertilizer ready for the
use of the Young plant when that stored in
the kernel is exhausted and before the
coarser manures are available. He would
plant with machine which plants the corn
in little depression, so when the corn is
mp it may be narrowed with the Thomas
smoothing harrow, which may safely be
done Gf the ground has been properly pre-
pared) till the corn is six inches high. Then
use the cultivator; and here is where the
straight rows show their value, for you can
as long as the horse can go without break
ing down the stalks. The Corn-fodder is of
great value. His cows are now eating two
feeds per day of corn-fodder, and he be-
lieves they are doing better than if fed all
hay. Corn-fodder should be carefully har-
vested, as much pains being taken as with
hay, and the fodder will be worth more
than the hay where it does not exceed one
ton per acre. He described the process of
cutting, handling and curing the crop to the
nnplri nn in hn NNh oh ha Inv
alternating the layers with layers of straw
or poorer hay, to take up the moisture from
the stalks, leaving the whole in an excellent
condition for feeding. He commended the
grinding OF corn and cob together, and con-
sidered that meal worth as much as western
corn-mea pound for pound
Professor Dole: " Is it not a profitable
custom to feed the corn-stalks and ears?''
Mr.. Davis thought not. He would pre-
fer husking and grinding.
Mr.. Pike " Do you use fertilizer in the
hill?"
Ansper--Would recommend its use
north. We do not need it so much.
Mr.. Stone: " Does this refer to corn-fod-
der, or fodder-corn?"
Aasacer.-Corn-fodde He would not
raise much fodder-corn-no more than would
be fed green.
Mr.. Pike would cut the fodder before
feeding. He uses Sanford corn, and intends
to have the corn get into the milk before
cutting and packing.
Judge Fisher preferred packing the corn
in the silo uncut. The cost of filling is less,
and does not cost much more to cut out in
feeding in the winter.
Mr.. Davis visited farm where silo was
filled part cut and part whole. The owner
said he should pack no more whole.
Mr.. Smith inquired whether corn could
not be ensiled cut about as cheaply as
whole.
Mr. Hopkins thought the cut ensilage was
o. mot nph
and he mixes his straw with the ensilage
as it is cut and pitted.
Professor Cook (which will pack the
closer, cut or whole ensilage?"
Mr. Lamberton: "Cut ensilage."
Mr.. Austin packed his fodder, and packed
his ensilage whole, and finds it sound but
acid. He had heard of sweet ensilage and
would like to see some.
Mr.. Smith had fed whole ensilage for two
years, but planted no corn for ensilage this
year, as he thought it better to use the same
fertilizer and turn over the sod and seed to
grass.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Professor w. w. Cooke, secretary of the
board, opened the meeting with a lecture on
Fertilizers and Fertilization" In seven
teen of the fertilizers sold in the state last
year the nitrogen costs twenty-five cents a
pound, which is too much. Nitrogen and
ammonia are about the same thing, and
plaster is one of the best things to arrest the
escape Ol anu DItScINt IL III lHt
manure for use in the crop. Stable manure
is practically at standstill during period
of drouth and hence the benefit of spread
ing the manure on the snow or on bare
ground before snow comes. The action OF
the frost and moisture breaks it up, and in
the spring the land is just in the condition
to take in and make available the manure
as food for the crop. For most plants the
nitrogen is in the organic form, and in that
form is not available as plant food, but
must be changed to nitric acid before it can
be taken up as plant food In this form il
is liable to some loss by teaching, but it is
taken up by the crop while it is growing
and in meadows there is no loss by teaching
In the valuation given in the analysis and
valuation of chemical fertilizers the price
given is what the chemical will cost in the
markets of the country, and is no guide tC
its value in dollars and cents TO the farmer
who buys and uses it, Every rain brings
down some nitrogen from the air to the
earth, and the more the soil is stirred
the more nitrogen it will absorb. Some
plants exhaust the soils Of nitrogen more
than others. Corn will furnish a greater
value of fodder with the least exhaustion OF
the soil, and is one of the most valuable or
Vermont soils The clover family is also 3
most valuable one. 1t has wonderful roo
growth and has the power of taking VI
from greater depth of the soil the plan
food N tnnpb ore 1pOrpp than thf